Green Options » Make

Nissan to Launch Compact Hybrids

Andrew Williams — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:44:19 +0000

Nissan has announced plans to sell compact hybrid vehicles based on its own technology in Japan, starting from 2011.

The Japanese outfit intends to make a low-cost, compact powertrain featuring an integrated electric motor providing supplemental power to the main gasoline engine. Energy will be provided by high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

According to Nissan the hybrids should be more than twice as fuel efficient as the equivalent gas-powered offerings.

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Reva to Build World’s Largest Electric Car Factory in India

Andrew Williams — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:56:51 +0000

The Reva Electric Car Company has announced plans to build the world’s largest factory for cheap all-electric cars, capable of a massive annual output of 30,000 units.

The Bangalore, India-based company hopes that after the Rs300m ($6.1m) facility begins production in the first quarter of next year, it will help to introduce green energy to the subcontinent’s rapidly growing automotive industry.

The Reva, a small hatchback powered by eight six-volt batteries, retails for a mega-competitive Rs350,000 in India and £7,500 ($12,200) in the UK, (where it is marketed under the G-Wiz brand), far less than most rival companies.

Speaking about the plan, Chetan Maini, Reva’s deputy chairman and chief technology officer said, “We are promoting a technology that holds the key to the global energy crisis.”

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Kansas Teen Builds Own Electric Car from Old Ford Escort

Andrew Williams — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:18:45 +0000

17-year-old Andrew Loader from Lindsborg, Kansas has amazed his parents by building his very own electric car (Video) from nothing more than a clapped-out Ford Escort, some batteries and an old forklift motor.

Tired of paying last summer’s high gas prices, Andrew decided to take matters into his own hands and build the street-legal vehicle after researching the idea on the internet.

To begin with, Mom and Dad were less than impressed with the scheme. “Mom told me not to, and dad did too. I had to write a letter to Mom and her friend convinced her not to ground me or kill me,” said the industrious teenager.

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Nissan to Build Massive Electric Car Factory in US

Andrew Williams — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:08:13 +0000

Nissan has announced plans to launch the large-scale production of electric cars and batteries in the United States, with a massive 50 billion Yen ($516 million) facility in Smyrna, Tennessee.

The site will be capable of knocking-out an impressive 50,000 to 100,000 EVs by 2012, with investment possibly DOUBLING to 100 billion Yen (more than $1 Billion).

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Cyclecide Reinvents the Bicycle

Rhonda Winter — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:01:07 +0000

Heavy Pedal Cyclecide Bike Rodeo is a consortium of inventors, bike mechanics, artists, musicians and visionaries who love bikes and building stuff. Their wild imaginations having created all manner of beautiful recycled bike art machines- everything from a wacky two-wheeled Chupacabra to a complete bicycle-powered carnival. Bicycles are seen not only as a vehicle, but also as a medium for creative expression and fun. Cyclecide member Jarico Reesce explains, “Historically, when you think about bicycles, there is no other machine that is more democratic and versatile than the bicycle itself.”

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Cyclecide will be displaying their brilliant bicycle monstrosities in San Francisco this Saturday, June 6th, during the Bayview Artfest. This free event is taking place on Third Street and Fairfax (one block from Evans) from 11am to 5pm.

Why you Should Craft When Times are Tough

Kelly Rand — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:31:52 +0000

If you haven’t heard the economy is in the drink. It seems every time I turn around there is more news of another bank or company on the brink, with no foreseeable end in sight.

We’ve heard the comparisons that this recession looks very much like the great depression. It is hitting everyone’s pocket book, no matter your socioeconomic status. This free fall to the bottom isn’t discriminating.

So why should you craft when there is even less disposable income for you to play with? Well here are my top reasons you should craft when times are tough:

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Yearn Worthy Yarn: Lion Brand Recycled Cotton

Kelly Rand — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:30:59 +0000

Man, there is a lot of recycled cotton yarn out there! We’ve looked over 2nd Time Cotton and perused what Redheart had to offer. Well now, Lion Brand has gotten in on the recycled cotton act to muted fanfare.

No trumpets or bugles, just a lonely blogger trying to give her readers more earth friendly yarn options.

This recycled cotton is made from t-shirt clippings and sorted by like color. It is then blended with acrylic and “other fiber,” so the actual amount of recycled content is just shy of 75%.

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Celebs try out Cool Green Crafts at Sundance

Kelly Rand — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:30:20 +0000

Mark Montano affixes an urban corsage on actress Anya Monzikova

The Sundance Film Festival kicked off on January 15th and wrapped up yesterday. In amongst the films and snow, celebrity attendees participated in green crafting at an event called The Green Lodge with Mark Montano author of The Big Ass Book of Crafts. The craft-a-thon was sponsored by Amazing EcoGlue from Eclectic Products, Inc.

The Green Lodge focused on eco-crafting by using products that can be recycled, upcycled and restyled. Celebrities including KayCee Stroh of High School Musical cast, Aubrey O’Day from Making of the Band 3, actress Anya Monzikova from Tropic Thunder and a Deal or No Deal alumna, and Alice Greczyn from Privileged and Lincoln Heights, were were inspired to create eco-chic and sustainably stylish projects and gifts alongside the expert crafter and designer.

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Yearn Worthy Yarn: Cassette Tape

Kelly Rand — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:30:16 +0000

I’ve been hanging onto a lot of cassette tapes from way back when. I can’t seem to get rid of them. But perhaps I could turn them into something new and different. I know we’ve been over what to do with the physical, plastic case, and there is a fiber made from the tape itself (it makes sound!). But what about knitting?

Yup, knitting.

You can take the inside of the cassette tape and easily knit with it. I mean, it usually got caught in the cassette player anyways. Remember how it got eaten and tangled? Ugh. Well, just be careful when you unwind the tape and treat it like any yarn that could get tangled.

What can you make with your tape? Well, just about anything that you can dream up. How about an ipod cover (oh the irony.) Or what about an evening bag, doll clothes, granny square? The possibilities are endless.

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China, Pakistan Plan Solar Partnership to Face Energy Crisis

Andrew Williams — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:26:18 +0000

In an effort to tackle Pakistan’s growing energy shortage, representatives of the burgeoning Chinese solar industry have offered to cooperate with the country on a high profile partnership to manufacture solar energy equipment.

The offer was made at a press conference to promote the 2010 International Solar Cities Congress, to be held in Shangong province. Speaking at the event, Huang Ming, Vice‑President of the International Solar Energy Society said, “Pakistan and China are like brothers. We are eager to promote our solar energy industry in Pakistan.”

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Planting with Paper Pots

Rhonda Winter — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:44:47 +0000

My neighbor Alyssa and I spent this afternoon making paper pots to propagate wildflower seeds for our neighborhood community garden. Anyone can create these simple recycled pots using just an empty can or jar and paper; we used cut up grocery bags and old newspapers for our organic planting project.

Alyssa displays her completed paper pot filled with planting soil.

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Your Presence is your Present

Kelly Rand — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:30:59 +0000

As the holidays are solidly upon us, I am finally feeling a little bit relieved that it is almost over. I took the handmade pledge, made the majority of my gifts, or bought handmade for the rest. I, again, underestimated the amount of time it would take me to get everything accomplished and ended up spending an arm and a leg on shipping, but my stress level has subsided.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the holidays. Figuring out gifts and baking an insane amount is actually fun, but takes a lot of coordination. So I wanted to give you another option for your gift giving. The gift of time.

It is the ultimate in green giving. No purchase necessary. It doesn’t consume resources. It even thwarts the consumerism that is so prevalent during this season. All’s it requires is for you to craft some room in that super busy over-scheduled life of yours.

I didn’t say it would be easy.

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Fungi Discovered in Patagonia Rainforest Could Be Used to Make Biodiesel

Andrew Williams — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:44:00 +0000

American scientists have discovered a fungus deep in the Patagonian rainforest that makes biodiesel as part of its natural lifecycle. The fungus is the only organism that has ever been shown to produce such an important combination of fuel sources.

According to team member Prof. Gary Strobel of Montana State University, “The fungus can even make these diesel compounds from cellulose, which would make it a better source of biofuel than anything we use at the moment.”

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Audi to Launch Small Affordable Electric Cars

Andrew Williams — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:51:30 +0000

German car-maker Audi has confirmed that it plans to launch a small electric city car, most likely based on the VW Up! concept (pictured).

Speaking at last weeks Paris Motor Show, Audi management board member, Peter Schwarzenbauer, said, “we will offer a pure electric car.” He also revealed that the electric Audi “will not be based on the A1,” the firm’s premium supermini.

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Folksy - Make, Sell, Buy

Kelly Rand — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:30:05 +0000

Folksy is a new online place for you crafty people in the UK, to make, sell and buy. Folksy champions cool crafts and design talent. It connects designers and crafters who have great things to sell with other like minded people who want individual, quality items that are made with love.

You can search Folksy for items by type, including handmade supplies, and of particular interest - recycled! You can also search by materials and technique. Folksy also has a small campaign that brings you right to the bags page, stating that plastic bags are out and totes are in.

For sellers, setting up a shop looks to be a pretty straight forward and simple process. It is only open to UK sellers, but plans to open up to international sellers is in the works.

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Maker Faire does Green Living

Kelly Rand — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:06:52 +0000

For those of you on the West coast, this weekend is an amazing 2 day event packed full to the brim with DIY goodness. Put on by Make Magazine and Craft Magazine, Maker Faire celebrates things people create themselves—from electronic gizmos, to “slow made” foods and homemade clothes. The event is a non-stop “wow-fest” where surprises and inspiration are as ubiquitous as the festival air.

The 2008 Bay Area Maker Faire will put a special emphasis on “Green” living. There will be a huge exhibit featuring Farm Aid’s Homegrown Village, a local farmer’s market, Swap-O-Rama-Rama’s giant used clothing swap, DIY workshops and fashion show, Bazaar Bizarre’s crafts fair, a live Prius plug-in car conversion from Bay Area’s Calcars.org, and much, much more.

The Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a huge clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops. Bring a bag of your unwanted clothes to swap with other participants and then learn to make modifications or totally transform your new finds. Recycling reused clothing has never been more fun.

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Eight Great DIY Recycled Bags

Kelli Best-Oliver — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:23:08 +0000

Creating new bags is an simple way to recycle used materials destined for the landfill and create a unique fashion accessory. Here are eight bags you can easily make for next to nothing, on your own, without special materials, although a few projects do recommend a sewing machine.

1. Handbag knit purse from plastic shopping bags.

You’ve probably seen similar projects to this one: maybe a rug braided from plastic grocery bags. This Instructables project takes a slightly different approach: spinning the bags into a "yarn" that you then knit using an incredibly simple pattern to make a durable bag. I think you could easily make cute stripes with blue and white bags.

2. Yoga mat bag made from old pants

This project from personal fave ReadyMade magazine reuses "grandpa pants" (sorry Max!), but you can use any old pants, including denim, to make a very cute tote for your yoga mat. Can’t wait to try this one as soon as I "borrow" my mother-in-law’s sewing machine.

3. Tote bag made from old t-shirt

If there’s one thing I have a ton of, it’s old t-shirts. My storied (ha!) athletic career (and teaching career) left me with more t-shirts than I know what to do with. Most have sentimental value and I hate to throw them out, but I never wear half of them, and I’m not a fan of those t-shirt quilts. This project from Instructables is super-simple and, with a little work, could be the easy way to make all those reusable grocery bags you’ve been meaning to buy.

4. Insulated lunch bag remake.

Okay, this one is kind of cheating: it’s more of a makeover than a reuse, but if you happen to come across one of those cheap insulated lunch bags, Instructables recommends remaking it to be less hideous. Well, I’d make a cuter applique than the shifty-eyed donut, but that’s just personal taste

5. Customized reusable shopping bag

I can’t wait to try this, since I have a plethora of reusable bags I’ve gathered over the years. This Instructables project creates inner pockets in your reusable grocery bags to hold "produce bags you’re reusing at the store, a bottle of wine, or fresh baguette." Oh yes, I want to carry television-style grocery bags with a loaf of bread and leafy carrots sticking out of the top. Now I can make the myth a reality.

6. Handbag sewn from plastic shopping bags

Although the ReadyMade project on the right looks more complicated than the other projects here, the end result looks seriously stylish, and the only materials needed are grocery bags, thread, bobby pins, scissors, and a sewing machine.

7. Messenger bag from trash bags

Here’s some MacGyver bag-making: Make has a hip messenger bag, suitable for men and women, made from old trash bags using an iron to melt the plastic together. And you can watch it being made via their online video. If that’s not your bag (I couldn’t resist!), download the PDF instructions.

8. Handbags from old sweaters

If you’ve got old sweaters, Cosby or otherwise, lying around (maybe with your grandpa pants?), WhipUp’s got a pattern to turn them into one-of-a-kind totes.